How The Light Gets In – the World’s largest philosophy and music festival

It’s the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend, there’s an extra day off….what to do but head over to Wales and go to the World’s largest philosophy and music festival: “How the Light Gets in”.

Hay-on-Wye is the internationally famous ‘town of books’, situated in a magical location on the edge of the Black Mountains. It’s also the home of HowTheLightGetsIn, the world’s first philosophy and music festival, now in its third year. http://howthelightgetsin.org

We were supposed to be going kayaking with Wye Valley Canoes in an attempt to recreate one of the best days from a previous year. You can hire 2 man Canadian canoes, chuck all your stuff in a barrel and then paddle down the Wye (…in the sun!) and end up 4 hours(ish) later at the Boat Inn – which serves “Ol’ Rosie” cider out of a box. Provided it’s sunny, you’re on to a winner…

Having decided on kayaking – we looked around for other things to do in the area and spotted the “How the Light Gets In” festival. The campsite looked good, the events were interesting and it’s not something we would normally do so we got tickets.

As it turns out, Jim broke his wrist kicking footballs so kayaking was cancelled and we just went to the festival instead…well, festival and the various pubs in Hay anyway.

We stayed in the Riverside Campsite which, as the name suggests is right next to the river and also only a short walk across the bridge to get to the festival itself. Traditional festival camping this wasn’t – with hot showers, clean toilets and plenty of space even for our 8 man tent… which was nice. We even managed to get a quick game of Gold Fever in before everyone arrived….it’s getting more interesting (rather than just playable) now that I’ve changed the rules a bit to include more “nugget jeopardy”…

On the Sunday, we got a “Sunday Special” ticket which gives access to all the events – but the highlight for me was definitely Jeffrey Lewis and the Junkyard. The first time I’ve seen them live and I was really impressed – particularly with his comic stories.

The highlight of the entire festival for me was actually his “Space Ducks” song – which I managed to find on YouTube (but from a different venue).

Like Earth ducks from a far off place
They can walk or swim or fly through space
Space Ducks
If space rain ever attacks
It rolls just like space water off their backs
Space Ducks
If you ever hire them to make some kills
You better prepare to pay their space bills
Space Ducks
When they nested on the moon they never left a hint
But on the dark side there’s just a web foot print
Space Ducks
To their appointed rounds they flap through all space weathers
And you’ll never see a pillow made of their space feathers
Space Ducks Space Ducks outer space ducks
Not human race ducks, not of this place ducks
Space carnivores are out of luck
You better stick to eating mock space duck
Space ducks space ducks, outer space duc ks
Not human race ducks, not of this place ducks
There’s no space rhyme and there’s no space reason
They’d ever be caught in a space duck hunting season
Space Ducks , space ducks outer space ducks
Not human race ducks, not of this place ducks
They migrate through the stars and never once look back
You only see a blur and hear a sonic space quack
Space Ducks , space ducks outer space ducks
Not human race ducks, not of this place ducks
They migrate through the stars and never once look back
You only see a blur and hear a sonic space quack
Space Ducks , space ducks outer space ducks
Not human race ducks, not of this place ducks
They migrate through the stars and never once look back
You only see a blur and hear a sonic space quack
Space Ducks , space ducks outer space ducks
Not human race ducks, not of this place ducks

Jeffrey Lewis – Space Ducks

On the Monday, there was various things on during the day, but the highlights for me was the comedy in the evening.

We went to see Gareth Morinan and his hour long “Truth Doodler” preview show first. I hadn’t heard of him before but his twitter description of “only comedian/animator/data-analyst in the world (probably)” grabbed my attention.

He was really good, if you’re going to the Fringe this year – I’d recommend going to see him – it’s quite a unique data/comedy offering.

We then went to see Jay Foreman straight after and really liked him too. He’s got some great songs about everything from stealing food to being glad that John Lennon died.

He’s been described as “Victoria Wood for the Spotify generation” and I can sort of see why…

His songs also reminded me a bit of Tim Minchin – who coincidentally we also saw out and about in Hay – but apparently, he was there for the other festival…Two festivals at the same time? not bad for one little town!

My favourite song from Jay’s repetoire that night was his stealing food one:

…and then it was time to go home. The festival itself goes on for 10 days or so and we only sampled a small bit but I’d highly recommend it for something a bit different to the usual…